MILLIONS will get an extra hour in bed after the clocks in the early hours of Sunday morning.
British Summer Time (BST) will come to an end at 2am when the time changes back an hour to 1am on October 29.
Millions of employees might have to work an extra hour for free when the clocks go back
When the clocks go back, we enter what’s known as Greenwich Mean Time or GMT.
It means there’s more daylight in the mornings, but it means the nights are darker.
Below, we explain the rules around working when the clocks change and understanding your rights if you are.
Will I have to work an extra hour?
This will all depend on how your employment contract is worded.
For example, if it says you have to work specific times, such as 12am to 8am, you are likely to have to work the extra hour.
But if it states the number of hours you should work, for example, an eight-hour shift, you should be allowed to finish an hour early.
Will I get paid for working an extra hour?
If you’re one of the unlucky people who have to work the extra hour, whether you will get some extra cash depends on how you are typically paid.
If you’re paid by the hour, you should get some extra money for working longer.
But if you are salaried or paid a day rate, your company doesn’t have to pay you any more than usual.
The exception to this is if the extra hour pushes your equivalent hourly wage below the national living wage, which is £10.42 per hour for workers over 23.
To calculate this, take the amount you’re being paid for the shift and divide it by the number of hours you’ve worked.
If you’re asked to work extra for no pay, then double-check to make sure you won’t be dipping below the minimum legal requirement.
You can also report your employer to HMRC.
Even if you’re not entitled to extra pay, for instance, because you’re on a salary and earning more than minimum wage, it’s worth flagging the issue to your employer.
Your company might ask you to start an hour later or let you leave an hour earlier. Or it might offer to pay you overtime for the extra hour.
What are night workers’ rights?
If you work night shifts you are already entitled to certain rights, according to the Working Time Regulations.
You are classed as a night worker if you work at least three hours through the night, usually in the period between 11am and 6am.
If you do night work, you should not have to work more than eight hours in a 24-hour period. This is usually calculated over a 17-week period.
Regular overtime is included in this average and workers cannot opt-out of this limit.
Because of the health impacts of nighttime working, your employer must offer you a free health assessment on a regular basis.
You also have a right to breaks.
If your shift is longer than six hours, you are allowed at least one uninterrupted 20-minute break.
You must also have at least 11 consecutive hours’ rest in any 24-hour period and one day off each week or two consecutive days off in a fortnight.